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Difference between revisions of "30th Birthday Championship"

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{{series|previous=Series 67|next=Series 68}}
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{{Featured article}}
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The '''Countdown 30th Birthday Championship''' will be filmed in late 2012 and early 2013 and broadcast in early 2013 to celebrate thirty years of Countdown. Over 200 past contestants applied to take part; 41 were selected by producer [[Damian Eadie]] to participate. Nine preliminary games will narrow the field to 32 contestants, who will then compete in a straight knockout for the championship.
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:''The 30th Birthday Championship is separate to [[Series 68]].''
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{{series infobox
 +
|previous           = Series 67
 +
|next               = Series 68
 +
|image              = 30th Birthday Championship group photo.jpg
 +
|image_caption      = The 30th Birthday Championship group photo, taken after [[Conor Travers]] defeated [[Jack Hurst]] in the [[Episode 5654|grand final]].
 +
|image_2            = 30BC-Trophy.jpg
 +
|image_2_caption    = The "kryptonite", which every participant received.
 +
|image_3            = Cecil 2013.jpg
 +
|image_3_caption    = The new [[CECIL]] that debuted on [[Episode 5625|21 January 2013]], following the show's move to the [[dock10 Studios]].
 +
|first_episode      = Episode 5615
 +
|first_episode_date = 7 January 2013
 +
|last_episode      = Episode 5654
 +
|last_episode_date  = 1 March 2013
 +
|highest_score      = [[Episode 5654|146]]
 +
|highest_score_by  = Conor Travers
 +
|num_contestants    = yes
 +
|num_episodes      = yes
 +
|winner            = Conor Travers
 +
|runner-up          = Jack Hurst
 +
}}
 +
The '''30th Birthday Championship''' was a mini-series broadcast between 7 January and 1 March 2013, held to celebrate ''[[Countdown]]'' being broadcast on British television for 30 years. The championship was designed to crown the greatest contestant over the first 30 years of the programme, and was won by [[Series 54]] winner [[Conor Travers]].
 +
 
 +
Series producer [[Damian Eadie]] posted details of the tournament on the [[c4countdown]] forum in September 2012, and over 200 former [[contestant]]s expressed their interest in participating. This was whittled down to just 41, spanning 63 of ''Countdown''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 66 series (as this tournament was the breakaway and first to not invite chosen finalists from the latest series which was only [[Series 67]]) and including 15 [[series champion]]s. Contestants from [[Series 60]] through [[Series 66|66]] were especially emphasised within the lineup of occupying nearly 40% of the seats, due to the regular [[Championship of Champions]] tournaments to which they would normally be invited having been on a hiatus at the time. The success of the 30th Birthday event is thought to have contributed to the eventual revival of CoC events.
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 +
The mini-series lasted for eight weeks on-screen and consisted of 40 episodes, the first nine of which were preliminary games followed by a 32-way knock-out tournament. Production moved to a studio at {{w|MediaCityUK}} in Salford, ''Countdown''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s third permanent home in the show’s history, midway through the series. The first episode to be filmed there which also featured new scoreboards and target generator, aired on [[Episode 5625|21 January 2013]].
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 +
The series consisted mainly of close, high-scoring and record-breaking games: notable moments in the first proper round included [[Series 60]] champion [[Kirk Bevins]] scoring [[Episode 5634|130 points]] out of 130 (the second [[15 round format|15-round]] [[List of Countdown terminology|perfect game]] in the history of ''Countdown'') and [[Series 63]] champion [[Jack Hurst]] missing out on beating the show's [[List_of_Countdown_records#High_scores|highest ever score]] of 146, after his invalid declaration of {{word|spousing}} {{x}} gave him a total of [[Episode 5636|143]]. Round 2 included [[Episode 5642|another perfect game]] as [[Series 54]] champion [[Conor Travers]] beat Chris Hawkins with 119 points out of 119. The second round also featured two consecutive tie-breaker [[conundrum]]s &ndash; [[David O'Donnell (Series 58)|David O'Donnell]] unscrambled {{word|BAGOGLORY}} to [[Episode 5644|defeat]] [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]], and Kirk Bevins solved {{word|BARRYDICK}} to [[Episode 5645|claim victory]] over [[Innis Carson]]. The quarter-finals saw [[Jonathan Rawlinson]] and Jack Hurst progress, and contained two more perfect games &ndash; Conor Travers achieved a [[Episode 5650|second on the bounce]], and [[Jon O'Neill]] amassed a perfect [[Episode 5649|122]] points out of 122 that became the highest score ever achieved on ''Countdown'' without a [[nine-letter word]].
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In the [[Episode 5652|first semi-final]], both Rawlinson and Hurst started with the nine-letter word of {{word|CATENOIDS}}. Their scores remained level until Round 11, when an invalid declaration gave Rawlinson a six-point lead. However, this proved insufficient when Hurst unravelled the conundrum of {{word|TURNMOIST}} to reach the final. The [[Episode 5653|second semi-final]] featured O'Neill and Travers, the men who had achieved perfect games in their quarter-final matches. Their form continued and between them they gained maximum points with 28 of their 29 declarations, and Travers won with his third consecutive perfect game. Early in the [[Episode 5654|ultimate final]], Travers gained an 18-point lead after Hurst missed the nine of {{word|PONYTAILS}}. This was immediately followed by two further nines, the first known "ambulance" (9-9-9) in the history of televised ''Countdown''. Travers was able to extend his lead in the last letters round by spotting {{word|POMADES}} to win the final match with a score of a hefty 146 points, equalling the highest ever score set by [[Julian Fell]] [[Episode 3387|at the time]]. Travers' prize - a trophy which [[host]] [[Nick Hewer]] referred to as a "priceless piece of kryptonite" - was presented by [[Marcel Stellman]], who originally brought the ''Countdown'' format to Britain. All participants received a smaller version of the trophy for participating, as well as the teapot.
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As a result of the [[2020 COVID-19 hiatus|COVID-19 pandemic]], the series was repeated from 4 May to 26 June 2020 but [[Chris Hawkins]] put in a request not to show his two episodes. They were replaced by repeats of two knockout matches from other series: [[Episode 6613|the second semi-final of]] [[Series 76]] on 19 May 2020, and [[Episode 5718|the fourth quarter-final of]] [[Series 68]] on 10 June 2020.
  
 
==Participants==
 
==Participants==
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:The participants are listed by the series that they are most commonly associated with (Series champions are in '''bold'''):
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The participants listed by the series with which they are most commonly associated, are:
  
 +
{{Col-begin}}
 +
{{Col-break}}
 
*[[Series 4]]: [[Christine Hunt (Series 4)|Christine Hunt]]
 
*[[Series 4]]: [[Christine Hunt (Series 4)|Christine Hunt]]
 
*[[Series 6]]: '''[[Darryl Francis]]'''
 
*[[Series 6]]: '''[[Darryl Francis]]'''
Line 14: Line 47:
 
*[[Series 38]]: '''[[John Ashmore]]''', [[Jill Bright]]
 
*[[Series 38]]: '''[[John Ashmore]]''', [[Jill Bright]]
 
*[[Series 43]]: [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]
 
*[[Series 43]]: [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]
−
*[[Series 44]]: [[David Hoskisson]]
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{{Col-break}}
 +
*[[Series 44]]: [[David Hoskisson|Dave Hoskisson]]
 
*[[Series 46]]: '''[[Ben Wilson]]'''
 
*[[Series 46]]: '''[[Ben Wilson]]'''
 
*[[Series 47]]: '''[[Chris Wills]]''', [[Tom Hargreaves]]
 
*[[Series 47]]: '''[[Chris Wills]]''', [[Tom Hargreaves]]
Line 22: Line 56:
 
*[[Series 55]]: [[Steven Briers]]
 
*[[Series 55]]: [[Steven Briers]]
 
*[[Series 56]]: '''[[Nick Wainwright]]'''
 
*[[Series 56]]: '''[[Nick Wainwright]]'''
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*[[Series 58]]: '''[[David O'Donnell]]'''
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*[[Series 58]]: '''[[David O'Donnell (Series 58)|David O'Donnell]]'''
 +
{{Col-break}}
 
*[[Series 59]]: [[Martin Bishop]], [[Kai Laddiman]]
 
*[[Series 59]]: [[Martin Bishop]], [[Kai Laddiman]]
 
*[[Series 60]]: '''[[Kirk Bevins]]''', [[Neil Zussman]]
 
*[[Series 60]]: '''[[Kirk Bevins]]''', [[Neil Zussman]]
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*[[Series 62]]: [[Nicki Sellars]]
 
*[[Series 62]]: [[Nicki Sellars]]
 
*[[Series 63]]: '''[[Jack Hurst]]''', [[Tom Rowell]]
 
*[[Series 63]]: '''[[Jack Hurst]]''', [[Tom Rowell]]
−
*[[Series 64]]: '''[[Edward McCullagh]]''', [[Adam Gillard]]
+
*[[Series 64]]: '''[[Edward McCullagh|Ed McCullagh]]''', [[Adam Gillard]]
 
*[[Series 65]]: '''[[Graeme Cole]]''', [[Mark Deeks]], [[Paul Keane]]
 
*[[Series 65]]: '''[[Graeme Cole]]''', [[Mark Deeks]], [[Paul Keane]]
 
*[[Series 66]]: '''[[Jack Worsley]]''', [[Jonathan Rawlinson]], [[Peter Lee]]
 
*[[Series 66]]: '''[[Jack Worsley]]''', [[Jonathan Rawlinson]], [[Peter Lee]]
 +
{{Col-end}}
  
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==Fixtures==
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Series champions are displayed in '''bold'''.
 +
 
 +
Darryl Francis first appeared in [[Series 1]], losing his first game before being allowed to return in [[Series 6]].
 +
 
 +
==Progress (Round 1 and beyond only)==
 +
{{CoC32 progress
 +
|  1 = [[Peter Lee]] | 1s = 66
 +
|  2 = [[Tom Rowell]] | 2s = 63 | h1w = 2
 +
|  3 = [[Andrew Hulme]] | 3s = 61
 +
|  4 = [[Jonathan Rawlinson]] | 4s = 66 | h2w = 4 | q1w = 4 | s1w = 4
 +
|  5 = [[Paul Keane]] | 5s = 65
 +
|  6 = [[Neil Zussman]] | 6s = 60 | h3w = 6 | q2w = 6
 +
|  7 = [[Dave Hoskisson]] | 7s = 44 | h4w = 7
 +
|  8 = [[Mike Whiteoak]] | 8s = 13
 +
|  9 = [[Martin Bishop]] | 9s = 59
 +
| 10 = [[Chris Wills]] | 10s = 47 | h5w = 10
 +
| 11 = [[Wayne Kelly]] | 11s = 28
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| 12 = [[Jack Hurst]] | 12s = 63 | h6w = 12 | q3w = 12 | s2w = 12 | f1w = 12
 +
| 13 = [[David O'Donnell (Series 58)|David O'Donnell]] | 13s = 58 | h7w = 13 | q4w = 13
 +
| 14 = [[Tom Hargreaves]] | 14s = 47
 +
| 15 = [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]] | 15s = 43
 +
| 16 = [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]] | 16s = 61 | h8w = 16
 +
| 17 = [[Kai Laddiman]] | 17s = 59
 +
| 18 = [[Jon O'Neill]] | 18s = 53 | h9w = 18 | q5w = 18 | s3w = 18
 +
| 19 = [[Darryl Francis]] | 19s = 6 | h10w = 19
 +
| 20 = [[Barry Grossman]] | 20s = 21
 +
| 21 = [[Christine Hunt (Series 4)|Christine Hunt]] | 21s = 4 | h11w = 21
 +
| 22 = [[Sandie Simonis]] | 22s = 8
 +
| 23 = [[Graeme Cole]] | 23s = 65
 +
| 24 = [[Jack Worsley]] | 24s = 66 | h12w = 24 | q6w = 24
 +
| 25 = [[Chris Hawkins]] | 25s = 28 | h13w = 25
 +
| 26 = [[Jill Bright]] | 26s = 38
 +
| 27 = [[Conor Travers]] | 27s = 54 | h14w = 27 | q7w = 27 | s4w = 27 | f2w = 27 | gw = 27
 +
| 28 = [[Mark Tournoff]] | 28s = 52
 +
| 29 = [[Innis Carson]] | 29s = 61 | h15w = 29
 +
| 30 = [[Adam Gillard]] | 30s = 64
 +
| 31 = [[John Ashmore]] | 31s = 38
 +
| 32 = [[Kirk Bevins]] | 32s = 60 | h16w = 32 | q8w = 32
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Episodes==
 
{{episode table}}
 
{{episode table}}
−
{{episode table block|Preliminary Round}}
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{{episode table block|Preliminary round}}
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{{ep | 5617 | 7/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Tom Hargreaves]]| - |[[Nicki Sellars]]|tba|[[Susie Dent]]|}}
+
{{ep | 5615 | 07/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Tom Hargreaves]]| 117 - 57 |[[Nicki Sellars]]|[[Dave Myers]]|[[Susie Dent]]|131}}
−
{{ep | 5618 | 8/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Wayne Kelly]]| - |[[Nick Wainwright]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5616 | 08/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Wayne Kelly]]| 105 - 68 |[[Nick Wainwright]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|120}}
−
{{ep | 5619 | 9/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Mark Deeks]]| - |[[Jack Hurst]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5617 | 09/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Mark Deeks]]| 103 - 108 |[[Jack Hurst]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|120}}
−
{{ep | 5620 | 10/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Ben Wilson]]| - |[[Conor Travers]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5618 | 10/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Ben Wilson]]| 91 - 117 |[[Conor Travers]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|126}}
−
{{ep | 5621 | 11/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Mark Tournoff]]| - |[[Nick Deller]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5619 | 11/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Mark Tournoff]]| 101 - 100 |[[Nick Deller]]|Dave Myers|Susie Dent|119}}
−
{{ep | 5622 | 14/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Darryl Francis]]| - |[[David Webb]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5620 | 14/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Darryl Francis]]| 86 - 68 |[[David Webb]]|[[Martin Lewis]]|Susie Dent|119}}
−
{{ep | 5623 | 15/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Jackie McLeod]]| - |[[Barry Grossman]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5621 | 15/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Jackie McLeod]]| 65 - 79 |[[Barry Grossman]]|Martin Lewis|Susie Dent|119}}
−
{{ep | 5624 | 16/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Andrew Hulme]]| - |[[Steven Briers]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5622 | 16/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Andrew Hulme]]| 113 - 74 |[[Steven Briers]]|Martin Lewis|Susie Dent|127}}
−
{{ep | 5625 | 17/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Edward McCullagh]]| - |[[Jonathan Rawlinson]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5623 | 17/01/2013 | 30BP |[[Edward McCullagh|Ed McCullagh]]| 94 - 104* |[[Jonathan Rawlinson]]|Martin Lewis|Susie Dent|117}}
  
 
{{episode table block|Round 1}}
 
{{episode table block|Round 1}}
−
{{ep | 5626 | 18/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Peter Lee]]| - |[[Tom Rowell]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5624 | 18/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Peter Lee]]| 84 - 92 |[[Tom Rowell]]|Martin Lewis|Susie Dent|131}}
−
{{ep | 5627 | 21/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Kai Laddiman]]| - |[[Jon O'Neill]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5625 | 21/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Kai Laddiman]]| 76 - 101 |[[Jon O'Neill]]|[[Margaret Mountford]]|Susie Dent|132}}
−
{{ep | 5628 | 22/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Chris Hawkins]]| - |[[Jill Bright]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5626 | 22/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Chris Hawkins]]| 95 - 51 |[[Jill Bright]]|Margaret Mountford|Susie Dent|123}}
−
{{ep | 5629 | 23/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Martin Bishop]]| - |[[Chris Wills]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5627 | 23/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Martin Bishop]]| 99 - 102 |[[Chris Wills]]|Margaret Mountford|Susie Dent|124}}
−
{{ep | 5630 | 24/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]| - |[[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5628 | 24/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]| 58 - 108 |[[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]]|Margaret Mountford|Susie Dent|119}}
−
{{ep | 5631 | 25/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Innis Carson]]| - |[[Adam Gillard]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5629 | 25/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Innis Carson]]| 116 - 91 |[[Adam Gillard]]|Margaret Mountford|Susie Dent|137}}
−
{{ep | 5632 | 28/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Christine Hunt (Series 4)|Christine Hunt]]| - |[[Sandie Simonis]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5630 | 28/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Christine Hunt (Series 4)|Christine Hunt]]| 88* - 78 |[[Sandie Simonis]]|[[Mark Foster]]|Susie Dent|134}}
−
{{ep | 5633 | 29/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Paul Keane]]| - |[[Neil Zussman]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5631 | 29/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Paul Keane]]| 81 - 99 |[[Neil Zussman]]|Mark Foster|Susie Dent|131}}
−
{{ep | 5634 | 30/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[David Hoskisson]]| - |[[Mike Whiteoak]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5632 | 30/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[David Hoskisson|Dave Hoskisson]]| 85 - 81 |[[Mike Whiteoak]]|Mark Foster|Susie Dent|125}}
−
{{ep | 5635 | 31/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Graeme Cole]]| - |[[Jack Worsley]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5633 | 31/01/2013 | 30B1 |[[Graeme Cole]]| 98 - 104 |[[Jack Worsley]]|Mark Foster|Susie Dent|118}}
−
{{ep | 5636 | 1/02/2013 | 30B1 |[[John Ashmore]]| - |[[Kirk Bevins]]|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5634 | 01/02/2013 | 30B1 |[[John Ashmore]]| 92 - '''130''' |'''[[Kirk Bevins]]'''|Mark Foster|Susie Dent|'''130'''}}
−
{{ep | 5637 | 4/02/2013 | 30B1 |[[David O'Donnell]]| - |Winner 5617|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5635 | 04/02/2013 | 30B1 |[[David O'Donnell (Series 58)|David O'Donnell]]| 111 - 86 |Tom Hargreaves|[[Kate Adie]]|Susie Dent|128}}
−
{{ep | 5638 | 5/02/2013 | 30B1 |Winner 5618| - |Winner 5619|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5636 | 05/02/2013 | 30B1 |Wayne Kelly| 89 - 143 |Jack Hurst|Kate Adie|Susie Dent|152}}
−
{{ep | 5639 | 6/02/2013 | 30B1 |Winner 5620| - |Winner 5621|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5637 | 06/02/2013 | 30B1 |Conor Travers| 112 - 62 |Mark Tournoff|Kate Adie|Susie Dent|119}}
−
{{ep | 5640 | 7/02/2013 | 30B1 |Winner 5622| - |Winner 5623|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5638 | 07/02/2013 | 30B1 |Darryl Francis| 82 - 63 |Barry Grossman|Kate Adie|Susie Dent|118}}
−
{{ep | 5641 | 8/02/2013 | 30B1 |Winner 5624| - |Winner 5625|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5639 | 08/02/2013 | 30B1 |Andrew Hulme| 91 - 98 |Jonathan Rawlinson|Kate Adie|Susie Dent|115}}
  
 
{{episode table block|Round 2}}
 
{{episode table block|Round 2}}
−
{{ep | 5642 | 11/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5626| - |Winner 5641|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5640 | 11/02/2013 | 30B2 |Tom Rowell| 65 - 94 |Jonathan Rawlinson|[[Ken Bruce]]|Susie Dent|128}}
−
{{ep | 5643 | 12/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5627| - |Winner 5640|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5641 | 12/02/2013 | 30B2 |Jon O'Neill| 122 - 91 |Darryl Francis|Ken Bruce|Susie Dent|130}}
−
{{ep | 5644 | 13/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5628| - |Winner 5639|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5642 | 13/02/2013 | 30B2 |Chris Hawkins| 85 - '''119''' |'''Conor Travers'''|Ken Bruce|Susie Dent|'''119'''}}
−
{{ep | 5645 | 14/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5629| - |Winner 5638|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5643 | 14/02/2013 | 30B2 |Chris Wills| 70 - 115 |Jack Hurst|Ken Bruce|Susie Dent|119}}
−
{{ep | 5646 | 15/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5630| - |Winner 5637|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5644 | 15/02/2013 | 30B2 |Chris Davies| 117 - 127* |David O'Donnell|Ken Bruce|Susie Dent|140}}
−
{{ep | 5647 | 18/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5631| - |Winner 5636|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5645 | 18/02/2013 | 30B2 |Innis Carson| 102 - 112* |Kirk Bevins|[[Dr Phil Hammond]]|Susie Dent|120}}
−
{{ep | 5648 | 19/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5632| - |Winner 5635|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5646 | 19/02/2013 | 30B2 |Christine Hunt| 67 - 115 |Jack Worsley|Dr Phil Hammond|Susie Dent|117}}
−
{{ep | 5649 | 20/02/2013 | 30B2 |Winner 5634| - |Winner 5633|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5647 | 20/02/2013 | 30B2 |Dave Hoskisson| 75 - 90 |Neil Zussman|Dr Phil Hammond|Susie Dent|117}}
  
−
{{episode table block|Quarter-Finals}}
+
{{episode table block|Quarter-finals}}
−
{{ep | 5650 | 21/02/2013 | 30BQF |Winner 5642| - |Winner 5649|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5648 | 21/02/2013 | 30BQF |Jonathan Rawlinson| 118 - 53 |Neil Zussman|Dr Phil Hammond|Susie Dent|119}}
−
{{ep | 5651 | 22/02/2013 | 30BQF |Winner 5643| - |Winner 5648|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5649 | 22/02/2013 | 30BQF |'''Jon O'Neill'''| '''122''' - 104 |Jack Worsley|Dr Phil Hammond|Susie Dent|'''122'''}}
−
{{ep | 5652 | 25/02/2013 | 30BQF |Winner 5644| - |Winner 5647|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5650 | 25/02/2013 | 30BQF |'''Conor Travers'''| '''119''' - 94 |Kirk Bevins|[[Jenny Eclair]]|Susie Dent|'''119'''}}
−
{{ep | 5653 | 26/02/2013 | 30BQF |Winner 5645| - |Winner 5646|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5651 | 26/02/2013 | 30BQF |Jack Hurst| 115 - 97 |David O'Donnell|Jenny Eclair|Susie Dent|122}}
  
−
{{episode table block|Semi-Finals}}
+
{{episode table block|Semi-finals}}
−
{{ep | 5654 | 27/02/2013 | 30BSF |Winner 5650| - |Winner 5653|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5652 | 27/02/2013 | 30BSF |Jonathan Rawlinson| 105 - 116 |Jack Hurst|Jenny Eclair|Susie Dent|126}}
−
{{ep | 5655 | 28/02/2013 | 30BSF |Winner 5651| - |Winner 5652|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5653 | 28/02/2013 | 30BSF |Jon O'Neill| 102 - '''120''' |'''Conor Travers'''|Jenny Eclair|Susie Dent|'''120'''}}
  
−
{{episode table block|Grand Final}}
+
{{episode table block|Grand final}}
−
{{ep | 5656 | 1/03/2013 | 30BGF |Winner 5654| - |Winner 5655|tba|Susie Dent|}}
+
{{ep | 5654 | 01/03/2013 | 30BGF |Jack Hurst| 111 - 146 |Conor Travers|Jenny Eclair|Susie Dent|149}}
 
{{episode table end}}
 
{{episode table end}}
−
<center>Note: Dates are tentative, but C1 & C2 positions for each game are confirmed.</center>
+
<center>* Includes 10 points from a tiebreak [[conundrum]]</center>
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
{{Series links new|-16|30th Birthday Championship}}
  
−
<!--==External Links==
 
−
{{Series links|??|30th Championship}}-->
 
 
[[Category:Series|68]]
 
[[Category:Series|68]]

Latest revision as of 19:06, 16 January 2026

This is a featured article. Click here for more information.
The 30th Birthday Championship is separate to Series 68.
30th Birthday Championship
⟵ Previous | Next ⟶
30th Birthday Championship group photo.jpg
The 30th Birthday Championship group photo, taken after Conor Travers defeated Jack Hurst in the grand final.
30BC-Trophy.jpg
The "kryptonite", which every participant received.
Cecil 2013.jpg
The new CECIL that debuted on 21 January 2013, following the show's move to the dock10 Studios.
Series information
First episode 7 January 2013
Last episode 1 March 2013
Highest score 146 (Conor Travers)
Number of contestants 41
Number of episodes 40
Results
Winner Conor Travers
Runner-up Jack Hurst

The 30th Birthday Championship was a mini-series broadcast between 7 January and 1 March 2013, held to celebrate Countdown being broadcast on British television for 30 years. The championship was designed to crown the greatest contestant over the first 30 years of the programme, and was won by Series 54 winner Conor Travers.

Series producer Damian Eadie posted details of the tournament on the c4countdown forum in September 2012, and over 200 former contestants expressed their interest in participating. This was whittled down to just 41, spanning 63 of Countdown's 66 series (as this tournament was the breakaway and first to not invite chosen finalists from the latest series which was only Series 67) and including 15 series champions. Contestants from Series 60 through 66 were especially emphasised within the lineup of occupying nearly 40% of the seats, due to the regular Championship of Champions tournaments to which they would normally be invited having been on a hiatus at the time. The success of the 30th Birthday event is thought to have contributed to the eventual revival of CoC events.

The mini-series lasted for eight weeks on-screen and consisted of 40 episodes, the first nine of which were preliminary games followed by a 32-way knock-out tournament. Production moved to a studio at MediaCityUK in Salford, Countdown's third permanent home in the show’s history, midway through the series. The first episode to be filmed there which also featured new scoreboards and target generator, aired on 21 January 2013.

The series consisted mainly of close, high-scoring and record-breaking games: notable moments in the first proper round included Series 60 champion Kirk Bevins scoring 130 points out of 130 (the second 15-round perfect game in the history of Countdown) and Series 63 champion Jack Hurst missing out on beating the show's highest ever score of 146, after his invalid declaration of spousing ☓ gave him a total of 143. Round 2 included another perfect game as Series 54 champion Conor Travers beat Chris Hawkins with 119 points out of 119. The second round also featured two consecutive tie-breaker conundrums – David O'Donnell unscrambled BAGOGLORY to defeat Chris Davies, and Kirk Bevins solved BARRYDICK to claim victory over Innis Carson. The quarter-finals saw Jonathan Rawlinson and Jack Hurst progress, and contained two more perfect games – Conor Travers achieved a second on the bounce, and Jon O'Neill amassed a perfect 122 points out of 122 that became the highest score ever achieved on Countdown without a nine-letter word.

In the first semi-final, both Rawlinson and Hurst started with the nine-letter word of CATENOIDS. Their scores remained level until Round 11, when an invalid declaration gave Rawlinson a six-point lead. However, this proved insufficient when Hurst unravelled the conundrum of TURNMOIST to reach the final. The second semi-final featured O'Neill and Travers, the men who had achieved perfect games in their quarter-final matches. Their form continued and between them they gained maximum points with 28 of their 29 declarations, and Travers won with his third consecutive perfect game. Early in the ultimate final, Travers gained an 18-point lead after Hurst missed the nine of PONYTAILS. This was immediately followed by two further nines, the first known "ambulance" (9-9-9) in the history of televised Countdown. Travers was able to extend his lead in the last letters round by spotting POMADES to win the final match with a score of a hefty 146 points, equalling the highest ever score set by Julian Fell at the time. Travers' prize - a trophy which host Nick Hewer referred to as a "priceless piece of kryptonite" - was presented by Marcel Stellman, who originally brought the Countdown format to Britain. All participants received a smaller version of the trophy for participating, as well as the teapot.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was repeated from 4 May to 26 June 2020 but Chris Hawkins put in a request not to show his two episodes. They were replaced by repeats of two knockout matches from other series: the second semi-final of Series 76 on 19 May 2020, and the fourth quarter-final of Series 68 on 10 June 2020.

Participants

The participants listed by the series with which they are most commonly associated, are:





Series champions are displayed in bold.

Darryl Francis first appeared in Series 1, losing his first game before being allowed to return in Series 6.

Progress (Round 1 and beyond only)

Peter Lee (66) vs Tom Rowell (63) Tom Rowell vs Jonathan Rawlinson Jonathan Rawlinson
vs
Neil Zussman 		Jonathan Rawlinson
vs
Jack Hurst 		Jack Hurst
vs
Conor Travers
Andrew Hulme (61) vs Jonathan Rawlinson (66)
Paul Keane (65) vs Neil Zussman (60) Neil Zussman vs Dave Hoskisson
Dave Hoskisson (44) vs Mike Whiteoak (13)
Martin Bishop (59) vs Chris Wills (47) Chris Wills vs Jack Hurst Jack Hurst
vs
David O'Donnell
Wayne Kelly (28) vs Jack Hurst (63)
David O'Donnell (58) vs Tom Hargreaves (47) David O'Donnell vs Chris Davies
David Williams (43) vs Chris Davies (61)
Kai Laddiman (59) vs Jon O'Neill (53) Jon O'Neill vs Darryl Francis Jon O'Neill
vs
Jack Worsley 		Jon O'Neill
vs
Conor Travers
Darryl Francis (6) vs Barry Grossman (21)
Christine Hunt (4) vs Sandie Simonis (8) Christine Hunt vs Jack Worsley
Graeme Cole (65) vs Jack Worsley (66)
Chris Hawkins (28) vs Jill Bright (38) Chris Hawkins vs Conor Travers Conor Travers
vs
Kirk Bevins
Conor Travers (54) vs Mark Tournoff (52)
Innis Carson (61) vs Adam Gillard (64) Innis Carson vs Kirk Bevins
John Ashmore (38) vs Kirk Bevins (60)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.
The numbers refer to the series in which each contestant originally played in the finals.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
Preliminary round
5615 07/01/2013 30BP Tom Hargreaves 117 – 57 Nicki Sellars Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 131
5616 08/01/2013 30BP Wayne Kelly 105 – 68 Nick Wainwright Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 120
5617 09/01/2013 30BP Mark Deeks 103 – 108 Jack Hurst Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 120
5618 10/01/2013 30BP Ben Wilson 91 – 117 Conor Travers Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 126
5619 11/01/2013 30BP Mark Tournoff 101 – 100 Nick Deller Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dave Myers Susie Dent 119
5620 14/01/2013 30BP Darryl Francis 86 – 68 David Webb Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 119
5621 15/01/2013 30BP Jackie McLeod 65 – 79 Barry Grossman Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 119
5622 16/01/2013 30BP Andrew Hulme 113 – 74 Steven Briers Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 127
5623 17/01/2013 30BP Ed McCullagh 94 – 104* Jonathan Rawlinson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 117
Round 1
5624 18/01/2013 30B1 Peter Lee 84 – 92 Tom Rowell Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Martin Lewis Susie Dent 131
5625 21/01/2013 30B1 Kai Laddiman 76 – 101 Jon O'Neill Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Margaret Mountford Susie Dent 132
5626 22/01/2013 30B1 Chris Hawkins 95 – 51 Jill Bright Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Margaret Mountford Susie Dent 123
5627 23/01/2013 30B1 Martin Bishop 99 – 102 Chris Wills Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Margaret Mountford Susie Dent 124
5628 24/01/2013 30B1 David Williams 58 – 108 Chris Davies Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Margaret Mountford Susie Dent 119
5629 25/01/2013 30B1 Innis Carson 116 – 91 Adam Gillard Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Margaret Mountford Susie Dent 137
5630 28/01/2013 30B1 Christine Hunt 88* – 78 Sandie Simonis Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 134
5631 29/01/2013 30B1 Paul Keane 81 – 99 Neil Zussman Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 131
5632 30/01/2013 30B1 Dave Hoskisson 85 – 81 Mike Whiteoak Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 125
5633 31/01/2013 30B1 Graeme Cole 98 – 104 Jack Worsley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 118
5634 01/02/2013 30B1 John Ashmore 92 – 130 Kirk Bevins Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Mark Foster Susie Dent 130
5635 04/02/2013 30B1 David O'Donnell 111 – 86 Tom Hargreaves Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Kate Adie Susie Dent 128
5636 05/02/2013 30B1 Wayne Kelly 89 – 143 Jack Hurst Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Kate Adie Susie Dent 152
5637 06/02/2013 30B1 Conor Travers 112 – 62 Mark Tournoff Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Kate Adie Susie Dent 119
5638 07/02/2013 30B1 Darryl Francis 82 – 63 Barry Grossman Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Kate Adie Susie Dent 118
5639 08/02/2013 30B1 Andrew Hulme 91 – 98 Jonathan Rawlinson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Kate Adie Susie Dent 115
Round 2
5640 11/02/2013 30B2 Tom Rowell 65 – 94 Jonathan Rawlinson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 128
5641 12/02/2013 30B2 Jon O'Neill 122 – 91 Darryl Francis Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 130
5642 13/02/2013 30B2 Chris Hawkins 85 – 119 Conor Travers Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 119
5643 14/02/2013 30B2 Chris Wills 70 – 115 Jack Hurst Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 119
5644 15/02/2013 30B2 Chris Davies 117 – 127* David O'Donnell Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Ken Bruce Susie Dent 140
5645 18/02/2013 30B2 Innis Carson 102 – 112* Kirk Bevins Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 120
5646 19/02/2013 30B2 Christine Hunt 67 – 115 Jack Worsley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 117
5647 20/02/2013 30B2 Dave Hoskisson 75 – 90 Neil Zussman Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 117
Quarter-finals
5648 21/02/2013 30BQF Jonathan Rawlinson 118 – 53 Neil Zussman Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 119
5649 22/02/2013 30BQF Jon O'Neill 122 – 104 Jack Worsley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 122
5650 25/02/2013 30BQF Conor Travers 119 – 94 Kirk Bevins Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 119
5651 26/02/2013 30BQF Jack Hurst 115 – 97 David O'Donnell Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 122
Semi-finals
5652 27/02/2013 30BSF Jonathan Rawlinson 105 – 116 Jack Hurst Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 126
5653 28/02/2013 30BSF Jon O'Neill 102 – 120 Conor Travers Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 120
Grand final
5654 01/03/2013 30BGF Jack Hurst 111 – 146 Conor Travers Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jenny Eclair Susie Dent 149
* Includes 10 points from a tiebreak conundrum

External links

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